Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential 2 if sound quality matters most, the Tronsmart Mirtune C3 if price matters most. The JBL Flip Essential 2 ranks #71 of 150 medium speakers, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90. The Tronsmart Mirtune C3 ranks #89, rated 3.1/5, at $29.99, $55.91 cheaper.
The case for the JBL Flip Essential 2: Essentially a Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz. The tradeoff: There is no tweeter, and side by side comparisons found it does not sound as good as the Flip 6, with less bass; its bass stops growing above about 70% volume, so turning it up mostly adds loudness, not weight.
The case for the Tronsmart Mirtune C3: Small and light at 530 g, with a racetrack driver and a tweeter rated for 30W, IPX7 waterproofing, Bluetooth 6.0, Auracast multi-speaker sync, stereo pairing, USB-C audio input, app EQ and a lanyard. The tradeoff: In GiT’s three way blind test it came behind the Creative Muvo Go and Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, sounding good only on sparse tracks, and listeners in AudioPro Reviews’ comparison found the JBL Flip 6 fuller with more bass.
Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Tronsmart Mirtune C3 when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | Tronsmart Mirtune C3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $29.99 |
| Ranked | #71 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #89 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators | 1x racetrack woofer + 1x tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 30W |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours at 50% volume (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 6.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| App | No | Yes (Tronsmart) |
| EQ | No | Yes (app) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) | 1.2 lbs (0.53 kg) |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) | 7.1”H x 2.8”W x 2.8”D (180 x 70 x 72 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Battery Capacity | - | 14.8Wh (7.4V, 2000mAh) |
| Charging Time | - | 2 hours |
| Strap | - | Yes (lanyard) |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Flip Essential 2: $85.90 Amazon eBay
Older model: the JBL Flip Essential (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).
Pros: Essentially a Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz. In a side by side loudness test it got louder than the JBL Grip, and listeners comparing it with the Marshall Emberton found it more open sounding and clearer. IPX7 waterproof, 520 g, USB-C charging and Bluetooth 5.1 with two phones connected at once.
Cons: There is no tweeter, and side by side comparisons found it does not sound as good as the Flip 6, with less bass; its bass stops growing above about 70% volume, so turning it up mostly adds loudness, not weight. No app, no EQ, no PartyBoost or stereo pairing, a claimed 10 hours of battery, and IPX7 covers water but not dust.
Full JBL Flip Essential 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- AudioTribe: JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Flip Essential 2 FULL TEARDOWN in Just 15 Minutes!
- Speaker Fan: JBL Flip 6 VS JBL Flip Essential 2 VS JBL Grip Loudness Test - Which Is Louder?
- HQ AUDIO Exchange: JBL Flip Essential 2 vs. Flip 6 | Bass Sound Test!
- Cristian Catalin’s Sound&Video: JBL Flip Essential 2 VS Marshall Emberton - sound comparison
- Angelicaaudio: Mini JBL Flip Essential 2 vs. JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth Speaker Review
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- See all 86 comparisons
Tronsmart Mirtune C3: $29.99 Tronsmart eBay
Pros: Small and light at 530 g, with a racetrack driver and a tweeter rated for 30W, IPX7 waterproofing, Bluetooth 6.0, Auracast multi-speaker sync, stereo pairing, USB-C audio input, app EQ and a lanyard.
Cons: In GiT’s three way blind test it came behind the Creative Muvo Go and Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, sounding good only on sparse tracks, and listeners in AudioPro Reviews’ comparison found the JBL Flip 6 fuller with more bass. Tronsmart rates the battery at 12 hours at half volume. It is a mono unit with no aux input.
Full Tronsmart Mirtune C3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Tronsmart) |
| Battery Capacity | 14.8Wh (7.4V, 2000mAh) |
| Battery Life | 12 hours at 50% volume (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Charging Time | 2 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 7.1”H x 2.8”W x 2.8”D (180 x 70 x 72 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x racetrack woofer + 1x tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (app) |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (0.53 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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